Seal



Feb; 5 1924.

( I A. E. BROOKS SEAL Filed May 4', 1922 smvemto'c lh ldltdlil m i l, i

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ALBERT E. BROOKS, F EVERETT, "WASHINGTON.

SEAL.

Application filed May 4,

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

it known that l, ALBERT E. BnooKs, a citisenof the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and a State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Seal; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved seal which is especially, but not necessarily, designed for use on shipping car doors, although it may be used effectively on many other types oi closures.

The principal object or the invention Es to generally improve upon seals of this class by providing one which embodies unique means for connecting the free ends of the shackle together to prevent disconnection thereof without enabling inspector or other oiiicial from quickly detecting it.

lilcre specifically escribed, the means for accomplishing the above end includes a tongue on one arm of the shackle to pass through a slot in the remaining arm thereof, said tongue being formed on its free ends and with a head which is of a size and shape to permit it to be quickly inserted through the slot, but to render its withdrawal rather diiiicult, together with suitable means for rendering the locking means inaccessible,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a of this specification in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seal constructed in accordance with this invention showing the ends of the shackle disconnected and a portion of the sleeve broken away to disclose the construction more clearly.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the seal complete as it appears when in use.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the seal showing the ends of the shackle disconnected.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the ends of the shackle in the act of being locked together.

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 showing 1922. Serial No. 558,387.

the position of parts after looking action has taken place.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view showing the ends of the shackle locked and a portion of the sleeve broken away to disclose the position of parts.

In carrying out the invention I employ as before intimated, a shackle l which formed from a strip of pliable metal which will become easily distorted in case the seal is tampered with in an attempt to open it without permitting detection. As clearly shown, one arm of the shackle is formed adjacent its free end with transverse openings 3 which is designed to permit passage ota locking tongue 5 carried by the other arm of the shackle. As better seen in Figure 1, one edge of the opening 3 is bent inwardly to form an inclined guide d designed to facilitate passage of the tongue 5 therethrough to permit the ends of the arms to be rapidly connected together. Although this tongue could be formed otherwise, it is preferably struck out from the shackle arm and is de signed to simulate an arrow. Hence, when once the tongue is passed through the open ing 3, it becomes exceedingly difficult to dis-- connect the ends of the arms of the shackle without breaking the tongue or distorting the entire shackle in a manner to prevent an inspector from easily detecting that the seal has been tampered with. The opening 8 is of a size to permit the enlarged pointed head of the tongue to pass therethrough, but is not suiiiciently large to permit it to be readily withdrawn to separate the ends of the shackle after they are once connected as shown in Fig. 6. Extreme care should be taken in manufacturing these seals so that the width of the slot 3 should be just such as to permit the arrow head of the locking tongue .to pass through it, to thus insure that when one of the slots is positioned behind said head, it will be practically impossible to withdraw the tongue through the slot without damaging the tongue or shackle. idhould the opening be made too large it is possible that by wiggling and properly manipulating the tongue, it could be eventually withdrawn from the slot b a skilled thief. However, if the opening is proportioned properly to the size of the arrow head, it will be practically impossible to separate the ends of the shackle arm with out destroying the seal to an extent to permit easy detection. To render it more difll) q ficult to separate the ends of the shackle, I make use of a sleeve 6 which is soldered or otherwise secured to the lower arm of the shackle at a point to surround and to cover the locking tongue and slot. This sleeve thus renders the slot and tongue inaccessible and although it is not essential, it can be mashed with a hammer to assist in preventing it from being displaced. In the majority of instances however, the sleeve need not be acted on in this manner.

The ends of the shackle arm are connected together in the following manner, viz: Assuming that the parts are in the position indicated in Figure 3, it will be seen that by grasping the upper shackle arm and forcing its free end through the right hand side of the sleeve 6, the parts will take the position approximately shown in Figure 4-. Then, by grasping the same arm and moving it in the direction of the arrow, the tongue 5 will be automatically guided through the slot 3 and, as before indicated, as soon as the parts assume the position shown in Figure 5, the ends of the shackle arm become securely locked together and it would be practically impossible to separate them without damaging the entire seal. If an at tempt is made to disengage the shackle arms by moving the upper shackle arm in the direction reverse to the arrow, this will be prevented and due to the pliability of the metal from which the shackle is formed, h will become distorted. It is understood that the locking tongue is sufiiciently resilient to permit the upper shackle arm to be forced through the sleeve 6 in the manner herein described.

By carefully considering the description in connection with the drawings, persons familiar with devices of this class will doubtless be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention. Therefore, a more lengthy and detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

Since probably the best results may be obtained with the construction and arrangement herein shown and described, this is taken as the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, I wish it to be understood that minor changes coming within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resorted to if desired. 1

I claim:

A seal of the type specified comprising a shackle formed from a pliable strip of metal bent between its ends to form pair of arms, one of said arms being formed adjacent its free end with a transverse slot, the material on one edge of said slot being bent downwardly to provide an inclined guide, the remaining arm having a portion struck out adjacent its free end to form a substantially arrow-shaped tongue adapted to be passed through said slot to connect the ends or" the arms together, the width of the slot being proportioned to the wide end of the arrowhead to permit the latter to be forced through the slot and snapped in place so as to hinder its withdrawal, and a sleeve connected with the last mentioned arm and surrounding the tongue and slot to render them inaccessible.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT E, BROOKS. 

